The Special Unit for Police Oversight of the Attorney General Office of Rio de Janeiro (2015-21): Lessons on Institutional Performance and Vulnerability

• In Event: Prosecution in the Making I: Context and Operation of Prosecutorial Offices in the Americas

Abstract

In 2015, the State Attorney General (AG) of Rio de Janeiro signed a consent decree with the local government, aimed at improving the administrative structure of the Military Police. Among other key provisions, the consent decree mandated the creation of a special unit within the AG's office focused on police oversight. Over time, the Special Group for Public Security (GAESP) refined its methodology for monitoring the agreement, instituting an annual calendar for thematic meeting, and strong protocols for monitoring compliance. The aim of this work was to delve deeply into the structure of the Military Police and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms operating within each branch of the agency. In 2021, however, the newly elected Rio de Janeiro´s Attorney General disbanded GAESP.

This presentation will provide an overview of the creation, operation, and ultimate disbandment of the GAESP within the Office of the State Attorney's Office of Rio de Janeiro. In particular, this presentation draws on direct observations and public records to discuss how the work of this specific unit in terms of targets, investigation protocols, and deployment of resources contrasted with the more conventional routine of case work and investigation in the broader prosecutor's office.

Author

• Claudia Türner Duarte, University of Pennsylvania